TICKETS A PLENTY FOR PLAYOFF GAMES
Brandon, Manitoba — With the start of their Western Hockey League opening round playoff series just three short days away, the Eastern Division regular season pennant winning Brandon Wheat Kings are reporting that just over 2,000 tickets have been sold for both the first and second games of their best of seven series with the Prince Albert Raiders.
rFor the first time in recent memory, the Wheat Kings will host games one and two of their first round playoff series. In recent years, Brandon has been unable to secure the Saturday night date due to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair that begins on Monday. However, the Provincial Exhibition in cooperation with the Keystone Centre made it possible this spring and the hockey club is hoping that western Manitoba hockey fans will take advantage of it.
rFresh off winning their second WHL Eastern Division pennant in three years and their fourth in six seasons, the Wheat Kings have begun preparations for their first round series. Games one and two will be played on Friday and Saturday, March 23rd and 24th at 7:30 p.m, before the series shifts back to Prince Albert for games three, four and five, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights. Should a sixth and seventh game be necessary, they would be played back at the Keystone Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 3rd and 4th.
rIn making their fourteenth playoff appearance in the past 15 years, the Wheat Kings will be facing off against the Raiders for the sixth time in post-season play, and for the third time in the past four years. Brandon is 17-11 in 28 playoff games against the Raiders, winning four of five series.
rDuring the regular season, Brandon won five of eight games against Prince Albert. Four players including Codey Burki and Mark Derlago led the club in scoring with 11 points each. Burki finished fifth in league scoring this season with 36 goals and 85 points while Derlago led the WHL with 46 goals.
rBesides winning their tenth pennant since joining the Western Canada Hockey League in 1967, the Wheat Kings established a franchise attendance record, attracting close to 149,000 fans during the regular season or an average of 4,132 per home game.
rTo purchase tickets to this week’s games, fans can visit the Keystone Centre box office, they can call 726-3555 or go online at ticketmaster.ca As well, the Wheat Kings will be offering special group discounts for this round. For more information, be sure to call Rick Dillabough or Drew Clayton at 726-3535.
rBrandon, Manitoba – The Wheat Kings hockey club has announced that members of the University of Manitoba Bisons Hockey Team that are playing on Western Hockey League Education Scholarships will be recognized before Wednesday’s WHL game at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre between Brandon and Calgary.
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rThe Bison players will participate in a special pre-game ceremony which will include Manitoba head coach Mike Sirant.
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r”Recognizing these WHL scholarship athletes, who are attending the University of Manitoba, clearly reflects the educational philosophy of the Western Hockey League,” says WHL Edcucation Consultant Jim Donlevy. “The main objective is to provide every opportunity for WHL players to pursue their academic goals in Canada.”
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rAmong the recipients of WHL scholarships currently playing for the Bisons include former Wheat Kings Reagan Leslie, Andrew Kaminsky and Travis Eagles. While Eagles and Kaminsky are in their third and fourth years respectively, Leslie is in his first year at the U of M after spending the past four seasons playing for Brandon where the Lampman, Saskatchewan product scored 29 goals and 132 points in 245 career games. The other five Bisons benefiting from the WHL scholarship include:
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r Paul Deniset Prince Albert Raiders
r Grant Jacobson Kamloops Blazers
r Chris Falloon Prince George Cougars
r Krister Toews Portland Winter Hawks
r David McDonald Regina Pats
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rWith the Wheat Kings and the WHL, education is a top priority. The WHL Education Agreement guarantees financial assistance to players, not only while they are playing but after they graduate from the Western League. The program provides tuition and books at a post-secondary institution for each year that a player spends in the WHL. Last season, nearly one million dollars in financial support was paid out by WHL teams to former players.
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rWednesday will mark the second of four “home” games that the Wheat Kings will play in Winnipeg. Earlier this month, Brandon skated to a 7-3 victory over the first place Saskatoon Blades.
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rTickets to Wednesday’s game are on sale now at the MTS Centre box office, by calling 780-3333 or go-on line at ticketmaster.ca
